The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-02-13
Senator Edmunds Nearly
Bored to Death.
rHE wRANGLE OVER THE BILL
The usy BIS Very Much Disgusted
Over the Talk-fhe Interstate
Commerce Problem.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Feb. I, 1887


1t may almost be said that another
week has passed and gone without any
definite action having been taken by the
conferees upon the Edmunds-Tucker
bill. At one time it appeared as if the
entire week was going to pass without
the slightest action in the matter what
ever. So great seemed the crush OF
other business, the antirpolygamy bill
tthe only bill, IN the estimation of some
people, worth consideration by the
members of this expiring Congress
seemed crowded out of sight, and al
most out of mind. To find out the real
cause of this delay, 1 am in a position
to state, upon the authority OF reliable
newspaper men, that
SENATOR EDMUNDs HAS BEEN BORED TO
DEATH
bored, until he has lost his temper on
several occasions. The Senator from Yer
mont, be it understood, is one of the
greatest men in the Senate of The United
States, He is one of the finest consti-
tutional lawyers in the country. and his
experience as politician and states :
man is second to none. The great Yer
monter, however, by reason of his in
cessant application to business, is not
one of the best tempered men in the
world. Like everybody else, he has
temper of his own. He can stand Just
so much, and no more; and when
person attempts to talk with him when
he is in no talking mood, that person
very soon finds out his mistake. He
leaves the presence of the Senator with
a feeling akin to having been frozen.
Those who have ever experienced such
a feeling, l don't care who the man
NAV be that caused it, will understand
exactly whatI mean. Not that Senator
Edmunds, by reason OF his manner, in
tends to hurt any ones feelings. He
would not do that. II is simply his
manner, and he can't help it.
The week, however, has not passed
away without some action having been
taken upon the bill which is OF the
greatest importance to Utah. AS my
dispatches have informed the readers
of THE HERALD,
THE FIRST MEETING OF THE C0NFEREES
upon the bill was held last
Friday afternoon. At that meeting,
held in the judiciary committee room
of the Senate, all the conferees were
present, except Mr.. Ingalls, who, al
though able to be upon the floor of the
Senate, was too unWe0 to undertake to
sit in committee some three or four
hours and do himself justice. So he
did not attend the committee meeting.
At the first meeting there was an ami
mated discussion. The general princi-
pies of the bill were more or less dis
cussed, and details were gone into at
considerable length. The meeting
however, adjourned without reaching
any conclusion whatever. An adjourn
ment was hal until next day (Satur-
day) when the bill was again to be. taken
up for consideration. With all due
respect to the advocates of the bill
refer more particularly to the Gentle
lobby here-I am IN a position to state
that they. did not attempt to hide their
disappointment at there being any
wRANGLE OVER THE FINAL PASSAGE
of the bill at all. They evidently did
not reckon upon any such thing. And
am almost free to confess that was
agreeably disappointed when I
heard of some sort of disagree
ment on the part of the con-
ferees. The first intimation l had
of it was in the press gallery
of the House. The representatives of
the press had made the rounds in. the
lobbies Of the House and Senate, and
in groups assembled they expressed, in
language more forcible than poetic,
that they believed there was some kind
of row" going on in the Senate end
of the Capitol over the anti-polygamy
bill, but no definite particulars could be
ascertained. However, it is a "cold
day" when the press reporters of this
city get left. What they can't find out
is not worth knowing. They will get
thar" or ole in the attempt. As have
repeatedly written, the members OF the
press gallery here have not been very
enthusiastic over the passage by the
House of the tucker substitute. They
declared it an outrage, and any news in
connection with its final consideration
was eagerly sought. The meeting on
saturday AFTERNOON laSIeu between IOur
and five hours. No conclusion was
reached. and another adjournment was
had until to-day, but understand that
NO VOTE WILL BE TAKEN
upon the bill until next Friday.
What the result of that vote will
be-if taken-I do not pretend
to say. One thing sure, it will
not be unanimous. Some of the mem
bers OF the committee will oppose it up
on principle. As to Senator Edmunds
real feelings in the matter | am unable
TO state. He is one of those men that
will not express himself in any way.
he is uncompromisingly Mormon,
ut have lingering belief that even
t. settle the Mormon question he has a
sincere desire to keep within the bounds
of the Constitution. In talking with
public men, have been informed that
Senator EGmuuds views with distruSt
the length to which the Tucker substi
tute attempts 10 go, but time alone will
tell his real feelings in the matter. A
lew days must bring the business to a
head. Probably before this letter can
appear in print some definite action on
the part of the committee VIII have been
taken. OF this, Of course, the telegraph
will inform THE HERALD readers. As